The Importance of Higher Military Educational System in Poland's Military Security
Purpose: The aim of this article is to determine the importance of the military higher education system in the scope of the overall state military security system. The research problem was formulated as a question about the role of military universities in the state's military security system. The research hypothesis assumes that military academies are a key link in meeting the needs of the Polish Armed Forces in terms of highly qualified officers, and that new legal and institutional solutions have contributed to increasing the participation of military academies in replenishing the officer corps of the Polish Army. Design/Methodology/Approach: The main research methods used in the study were: analysis of legal acts, data provided by the Ministry of National Defence from 2017-2024 concerning the education of cadets in military universities, the number of military studies graduates and the number of officers leaving the army, as well as budget expenditure on military higher education. The data was subjected to comparative, quantitative and qualitative analysis. Findings: The research showed that military universities play an important role in Poland's military security by providing highly qualified specialists for the Polish Armed Forces – they are responsible for replenishing the army's personnel every year – and the Military University of Technology plays a leading role in every area studied. Practical implications: The practical application of the study's results lies in the possibility of using them to optimise the personnel policy of the Polish Armed Forces and strategic planning in the field of education and competence development of officers. They also enable decisions to be made on the allocation of financial and investment resources to military universities, especially the Military University of Technology as a key institution for ensuring the continuity and quality of human resources in the state's military security system. Furthermore, these results have potential applications in other countries facing similar challenges in human resource management in their armed forces. Originality: The research presents an integrated analysis of military education reform, financial trends, and personnel dynamics within the Polish Armed Forces, highlighting the evolving strategic role of military universities. The study introduces a novel perspective on systemic retention challenges and the need for anticipatory structural reforms of the Polish Armed Forces and higher military educational system in military universities.